Coin controlled game table



March 7, L BABITS ET AL 2,499,559

COIN CONTROLLED GAME TABLE Filed Feb. 26, 1948 Patented Mar. 7, 19950 2,499,559 COIN CONTROLLED GME'TABLE Louis Babits, Benjamin Fishmamand ySgnrlund Pagenkopf, Brooklyn,` N. Y.

Application February 26, 1948,.Serialllmlll` l Claims.

This invention relates to game tables on which games combining skill and chance may be played for recreation and amusement, particularly to coin-controlled game tables of the type including a horizontal bed having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough into which balls are propelled by cues or other devices according to the rules of the games, the issuance of balls to a player being controlled by a .control device.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a novel and improved game table of the general type, above referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved game table permitting the playing of a variety of interesting and amusing games combining skill andchance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved .coin-controlled `game table comprising a control device releasing balls to a player for a predetermined period .of time in response to the insertion of atoken or coin.

Another more specific object of the invention, allied with the preceding one, is to providea novel and improved control device which releases balls for a predetermined period of time independently of the number lof balls played by the player during said period.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved game tableV of the general type, above referred to, which is reliable in operation, rugged and simple in design, .and offers the player the opportunityv of using a number of balls largely controlled by the players own speed while conventional coin-controlled game tables, as hitherto known, supply a xed number of balls.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and appearin the .appended claims forming part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing, a` now preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing: p

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a gametable according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section along line 2f-2 of Fig. ,1, and

Fig. 3 shows a typicalr .circuit diagram ofthe control device of the table.

Referring now to Figs. l and v2 in detail, the illustrated game table according to the invention comprises a bed Ill, preferably covered with felt similarly to a billiard or pool table. Bed .I9 constitutes the cover of a box-like structure I I horizontally supported by legs I2. The bed is con.

gametable. Different .values .may be assigned to.

the holes` .as indicated on Fig. A1.

Beneath bed II)v and within box II, there is, provided a trough I5 having preferably the crosse section of a. comparatively shallow cup. Trough I5 is supported on a wedge shaped bracket I5 resting upon posts I'Iand I8. As can be seen on Figs. l and 2, the trough is tapered and sloped toward a .ball entrance opening. IB of the .Casing 2D of a control device, generally designated by 2l. ,As a result, any ball .droppingthroughone of the holes I4 `will be caught by trough I5 and guided toward .and into control device 2l. The control device, all. parts of which .are preferably disposed Within Vcasing 2li, comprises, in `addition to the previously mentioned ball entrance operiing I9, a. ball Vdischarge opening 23, one of the casingk walls constituting also a front wall of box II.' Balls leaving the control device are caught and collected in .a trap -24 provided in front of the casing orfbox wall including opening23, The trapis formed by an .extension .of bottom Wall 25ct .box I I and lside walls 2.5'. The trap may ex, tend `along the entire width of the gamey table as can best beseen on Fig. 1,. Entrance opening I9 'and `discharge.opening .23 are connected by la trough 2liv which may be kneeeshaped. 'The troughis sloped .toward discharge `opening `-2,3 soA mata tallied into the .control device will rou through trough .2.6 into trap 24.

In order to control the'passage of .balls through the controldevice and hence rthe balls .available the wall of trough `2,6 into the path of balls roll` ing through .the .said trough, There is provided for .eachcore a spring 34 and 35 respectively.

Each spring is fastened at one end to a .core andat the other end to one of the trough Walls or any other suitable stationary part within casing 2li. The springs are `loaded tobias cores 3 2 and 33 into the positions .as best shown on Fig.

2 in which the protruding ends ,of the cores will` block the passage of any ball entering trough ,2S through opening I9.

The provision of two solenoids spaced in the direction of the travel of balls through the trough` serves to secure stopping of balls in the trough.

Practical tests have shown that it is advantageous to make the width of the trough considerably larger than the cross-section of the balls to avoid clogging of balls within the trough. As a result, when a ball jumps the first protruding core, this core will slow down the ball so that the second core will safely arrest a ball having jumped the iirst core. The protruding ends of the cores are preferably arranged at different heights relative to the trough bottom, thereby further improving the certainty of an arrest of balls within the trough without danger of jamming or clogging.

The solenoid coils are connected in series byA leads and 4| respectively through a timing device 42 to a conventional two-pole plug 43. In case, the available source of current is an A.C. source, suitable rectifying means such as a dry rectifier 44 is preferably provided. As is well known, it is preferable to energize solenoids with direct current to avoid humming. A stepdown transformer may be included in the circuit if desirable. Furthermore, a pilot lamp 45 may be connected in parallel with the solenoid coils to indicate whether the circuit system is supplied with current.

Timing device 42 which is indicated by a rectangular with the legend time clock includes a coin or token controlled switch, the coin slot being designated by 46. Timing devices of this type are well known in the art and it is believed that a detailed description is not necessary for the understanding of the invention.

When a coin or token of the proper value or size is inserted into the coin slot, the time clock will be actuated and close its switch for a predetermined period of time at the end of which the switch will be automatically reopened. The last inserted coin or a previously inserted one is released into a coin box from which the coins can be removed by the operator of the game table. As previously mentioned, arrangements of this kind are well known in the art, as are also means for adjusting the value of the coins to be used and the time for which the switch is maintained closed.

As will be evident, the series connected solenoid coils and also pilot lamp 45 are energized when and while the switch of the timing device is closed. As a result, the solenoid coils attract their respective cores against the action of springs 34 and 35, thereby clearing the passage through trough 26. Consequently, any ball dropping through one of holes I4 will roll through the control device 2| into trap 24 and is again available for playing. As soon as the solenoids are deenergized, springs 34 and 35 will return cores 32 and 33 into their locking positions, thereby blocking the passage of balls through the trough.

To provide for a greater variety of games that can be played on the game table, hazards shown as one or more mushroom-shaped pins and 5| may be provided to be placed in any desired position relative to holes |4 according to the rules of games to be played on the game table.

The operation of the game table, as hereinbefore described, is as follows:

A player who wants to play agame inserts a suitable coin or token into coin slot 46. viously described, solenoids 30 and 3| are now energized thereby withdrawing their respective cores from trough 26. A supply of balls now rolls into trap 24 from which they can be removed by the player. Any ball dropped through one o f the holes |4 will return into the trap as long as the switch of the timing device 42 is closed and the solenoids are energized. At the end of this period, no more balls will return into the trap so that the game comes to an end when the supply of balls in the trap is exhausted. As will be apparent, the number of balls available to a player is indefinite and largely controlled by the speed with which the player plays and causes balls to drop through the holes.

Any variety of rules may be provided. Generally,it is intended that all balls are played from a pointv or a line adjacent to the table end or head at which trap 24 is located.

While the trap is shown extended across a short side of the table, it is also feasible to provide the trap at one of the long sides of the table. The balls are preferably propelled by means of cues such as billiard cues. The rules may provide that the balls are propelled into a hole by the impact of a second ball rather than directly. Furthermore, the knocking over of one of the hazards may entail apenalty in the scoring.

Prizes may be awarded to the players in accordance with the score.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the nvention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A game table of the type including a substantially horizontally supported bed having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough, a control device controlling the issuance of playing balls to a player, and guiding means mounted below said bed for guiding playing balls falling through said holes toward and into the control device,

" wherein the said control device comprises a casing having a ball entrance opening and a ball discharge opening, a guiding trough connecting said openings and sloped toward the discharge opening, a solenoid having an axially slidable core arranged to extend into the trough and to block the passage of balls when said solenoid is deenergized, and a coin controlled timing device including a switch connected in circuit with the solenoid coil, said timing device being arranged to close said switch for a predetermined period of time in response to the insertion of a coin into the timing device, thereby energizing said solenoid and causing the core of the same to clear the trough for the passage of balls for said predetermined period.

2. A game table as described in claim 1, wherein a spring is operatively connected with said core and loaded to bias the core into its passage blocking position.

3. In a game table of the type including a substantially horizontally supported bed having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough, a control device controlling the issuance of playing balls to a player, and guiding means mounted below said bed for guiding playing balls falling through said holes toward and into the control device, the said control device comprising a casing having a ball entrance opening and a ball discharge opening, a guiding trough connecting said openings and sloped toward the discharge opening, a pair of solenoids disposed within said casing, each solenoid having an axially slidable core arranged to extend into the trough and to block the passage of a ball when the solenoids are deenergized, the cores of said solenoids being disposed spaced apart in the direction of the travel of balls through said trough so as to form a double barrier within the trough, a spring operatively connected with each of said cores and loaded to bias the respective core into its passage blocking position, and a coin controlled timing device including a switch connected in circuit with the solenoid coils, said timing device being arranged to close said switch for a predetermined period of time in response to the insertion of a coin in the timing device, thereby energizing the solenoids and causing the cores of the same to clear the trough for the passage of balls for said predetermined period.

4. A gaine table as described in claim 3, wherein said solenoid coils are connected in series with the switch.

5. A game table comprising an elongated bed having a plurality of spaced holes at one end for the passage of playing balls therethrough, sup port means supporting said bed in a substantially horizontal position, a control device supported beneath the opposite end of the bed, said control device including a casing having a ball entrance opening and a ball discharge opening, a guiding trough supported beneath the bed portion containing said holes for receiving balls falling through said holes, said trough communicating with the entrance opening of the casing and being sloped toward the same for feeding balls into the control device, a second guiding trough connecting the entrance opening and the discharge opening of the casing and sloped toward the discharge opening, a solenoid having an axially slidable core arranged to extend into the second trough and block the passage of balls when said solenoid is deenergized, a spring operatively connected with said core and loaded to bias the core into its passage blocking position, and a coin controlled timing device including a switch connected in circuit with the solenoid coil, said timing device being aranged to close said switch for a predetermined period of time in response to the insertion of a coin in the timing device, thereby energizing the solenoid and causing the core of the same to clear the second trough for the passage of balls for said predetermined period.

6. A game table comprising an elongated bed having a plurality of spaced holes at one end for the passage of playing balls therethrough, support means supporting said bed in a substantially horizontal position, a control ydevice supported beneath the opposite end of the bed, said control device including a casing having a ball entrance opening and a ball discharge opening, a guiding trough supported beneath the bed portion con taining said holes for receiving balls falling through said holes, said trough communicating with the entrance opening of the casing and being sloped toward the same for feeding balls into the control device, a second guiding ltrough connecting the entrance opening and the discharge opening of the casing and sloped toward the discharge opening, a pair of solenoids disposed Within said casing, each solenoid having an axially slidable core arranged to extend into the second trough and to block the passage of balls when the solenoids are deenergizedthe cores of the solenoids being disposed spaced apart in the direction of the travel of balls through the second trough so as to form a double barrier within the said trough, a spring operatively connected with each of said cores and loaded to bias the respective core into its passage blocking position, and a coincontrolled timing device including a switch connected in circuit with the solenoid coils, said tming device being arranged to close said switch for a predetermined period of time in response to the insertion of a coin into the timing device, thereby energizing the solenoids and causing the cores of the same to clear the second trough for the passage of balls for said predetermined period. 7. A game table as described in claim 6,

wherein the first trough has a substantially cupshaped cross-section and is tapered toward the entrance opening of the casing of the control device.

LOUIS BABITS.

BENJAMIN FISHMAN.

SIGMUND PAGENKOPF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name D'ate 619,663 Bowie Feb. 14, 1899 2,062,166 Delwiche Nov. 24, 1936 

